THE INFLUENCE OF THE FULL MOON ON SEIZURE FREQUENCY: MYTH OR REALITY?
Abstract number :
2.024
Submission category :
Year :
2003
Submission ID :
3742
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2003, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Selim R. Benbadis, Stanley Chang, Joel Hunter, Wei Wang College of Medicine and College Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL
Some patients claim that their seizures are predictably triggered or worsened by the full moon. This possible relationship between lunar phases and the occurrence of seizures, which is occasionally hypothesized, has not been tested. The purpose of this study was to test a possible association between seizure frequency and the phases of the moon.
We reviewed the occurrence of seizures recorded in our epilepsy monitoring unit over a 3-year period. Each cycle was divided into the traditional 4 quarters according to the phases of the moon (new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter), and the total number of seizures per quarter was calculated. We divided seizures into epileptic and [quot]pseudo[quot] seizures. We looked for any association between the fluctuations of the seizure frequency and the phases of the moon. We used a chi-square test for statistical analysis.
See table.
[lowast] An analysis of the total number of seizures (epileptic and pseudoseizures) over the 3-year period shows no significant clustering. Chi square = 2.135 (p=0.545).
[lowast]A separate analysis for pseudoseizures and epileptic seizures:
- Pseudoseizures: full-moon quarter is highest. Chi square = 11.760 (p=0.008).
- Epileptic seizures: last quarter is highest. Chi square = 16.723 (p=0.001).
Overall, the occurrence of seizures (all types) does not appear related to the phases of the moon. If anything, epileptic seizures were lowest at the full moon and highest in the last quarter. The apparent increase in pseudoseizures around the full moon is of uncertain significance and somewhat dubious.[table1]